Bishop Blake praised key gay marriage supporter

Church of God in Christ Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake is a man who has lost his bearing and spiritual authority to speak out against homosexuality. His denomination should call for his immediate resignation.

Bishop Blake’s track record in dealing righteously with homosexual issues in the church has been less than dismal. Although he and his supporters exult in multimillion dollar buildings, wealthy celebrity members and ecumenical prowess, Blake is a spiritually impotent leader. In times of great moral crisis, any leader of Blake’s prominence, whose voice is missing in action should be viewed as a traitor to the faith. Since his controversial invitation and widely criticized association with homosexual apostate Rev. Peter Gomes to his gushing devotion to new age heretic Robert Schuller, Blake seems to be advancing COGIC away from its holiness roots.

The storm of California’s Proposition 8 has left mud in high places. GCM Watch first raised the question as to why Bishop Blake, a noted “political power broker” in Los Angeles did not lend his voice or “power” to aid in the fight against homosexual marriage. The reason, we discovered, is that Bishop Blake’s entwined political associations have muzzled him. Its dangerous for any preacher of the gospel to become so beholden to political figures that they are rendered incapable of providing critical leadership to the church when the need arises. With opposition to biblical marriage increasing daily, we need church leaders to be clear, open, forthright and unfettered by back room issues.

And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (Exodus 32:19-26 KJV)

Moses and Aaron present stark contrasts of leadership in moments of collective crisis. You can draw your own conclusion as to which is acceptable to God. We are in those times now.

But a November 3rd Los Angeles Times story [scroll down] hint that Blake’s associations may be the reason for his silence. Blake not only helped elect a key supporterof homosexual marriage, he openly praised the man at West Angeles as “godly and faithful to the work of the Lord”

On the last Sunday before the election, [State Senator Mark] Ridley-Thomas appeared with his wife and one of his twin sons at three churches, symbolic choices he said reflected the ethnic diversity of the district.

At his first stop, West Angeles Cathedral on Crenshaw Boulevard, Ridley-Thomas was greeted by Bishop Charles E. Blake, a political power broker. Blake not only leads one of the city’s largest churches, with a congregation of 24,000, but the national church of more than 6 million, the country’s fourth-largest Protestant denomination.

Blake’s followers include many of the city’s African American elite, many of whom drive from wealthier surrounding neighborhoods to attend the first Sunday service of the month dressed up in suits and ornate hats. On Sunday, actress Angela Basset sat near Ridley-Thomas with her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance of “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” and their 2-year-old twins, Bronwyn and Slater.

Blake, whose son-in-law is former labor leader and City Councilman Martin Ludlow, endorsed Ridley-Thomas earlier this year, just as he endorsed Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa after the then-challenger made an appearance in his front pew. On Sunday, Blake praised Ridley-Thomas and his wife, Avis Ridley-Thomas, before the audience of about 1,000 as, “a godly family faithful to the church and the work of the Lord.”

Several supporters of Ridley-Thomas’ opponent, Bernard Parks, were at the service, notably Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who made a point of greeting Ridley-Thomas before the service and sat behind him with wife, Cookie Johnson, throughout.

Although longtime West Angeles member (and co-chair of the West Angeles building fund committee) Magic Johnson openly urged support of homosexual marriage, Blake failed to repudiate this. Some have argued that Johnson’s connection to West Angeles is minimal and Blake has no control over what any of his members say or do. That is true only if a pastor has abdicated his spiritual authority.

A godly man faithful to the Lord’s work?

That’s what Blake told his congregation about Ridley-Thomas, but that was a lie. What evidence is there that Ridley-Thomas is faithful to the Lord’s work? What church is Ridley-Thomas a member of which allows him to advocate for such a destructive social, political and biblical position without a trace of opposition? Like he has done for other evildoers in disguise, Blake used his influence to run cover for a staunch supporter of homosexual marriage, and did not tell his congregation of the man’s ungodly activities.

The man Blake praised publicly endorsed defeat of Prop 8 and in early August reassured a group of LA gay and lesbian elite he was committed to helping them make homosexual marriage legal. Is that the “Lord’s work” Bishop Blake was referring to? Both sides in the war over gay marriage knew that California was ground zero in just about every conceivable aspect. Ridley-Thomas was no fair weathered friend to homosexual activists, but worked actively and publicly to advance their anti-Christian bigotry. Ridley-Thomas is pictured left at the LA gay rally which among other things was an anti-Prop 8 rally.

Ridley-Thomas made West Angeles his first campaign stop because he knew he could count on Bishop Blake to give him glowing praise in front of people. As the article noted, Blake’s son-in-law was a former labor leader, the same group which enriched Ridley-Thomas in his quest to sit on LA County’s board of supervisors. He would have Bishop Blake to thank for that.

Blake could have effortlessly added West Angeles or COGIC or his name to a list of California churcheswhich were supporting the measure. But he didnt. He could have easily directed his new public relations officer Brandon Porter to issue a statement to the media that COGIC was at the least concerned about clergy sexual abuse cases in COGIC, but he didn’t. He could have easily required his staff to vet speakers before they address his local church, but he didnt.

Its well overdue for Bishop Blake to address these gross disparities of conduct and leadership. GCM Watch is aware that there are concerned individuals in his circle who read this blog and we pray that you will help break through the wall of silence and indifference that has become so characteristic of the administration of Bishop Charles Blake.

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17 thoughts on “Bishop Blake praised key gay marriage supporter”

This guy is so trifling. This guy (I hate to address him as bishop) is so mealy mouth, it’s a SHAME!!!! To allow a known “Oneness” (Bishop T D Jakes) to facilitate the Church’s Holy Convocation is right up there with the worship of the Golden Calf. And now this soft peddling for the allowance of an association with homosexual advocates, GIVE ME A BREAK, Blake needs several lessons in biblical leadership. He is truly lacking in this department and doesn’t have a clue biblically. This guy literally makes me sick to my stomach. I know that I’ll be hit by the “judge me not” and the “touch not my anointed” folks now.

Why is the COGIC Board allowing this to happen? All I can say is COME now LORD Jesus and judge with FIRE you promised!!!! (I know HE will).

God bless you Pastor Foster for your discernment and the insight the Spirit gives. I used to be COGIC as my Father-In Law pastored a small church in St. Louis. They pretty much ran them out because of his strict stance for holiness. My brother-in-law was in the midst of preaching a message against the evil and sinful lifestyle of “homosexuality”, when the Bishop rudely interrupted the service, told all non-members to leave, and rebuked him in front of the congregation, telling him never to preach a message on homosexuality again. This church has lost several members to AIDS, many while serving in the ministry. My brother-in-law left that organization, but has since gone back to join this same church about three years ago. I guess good churches are hard to find… WHAT A JOKE, WHAT A JOKE!!!!!

Elder Foster ,continue to do what you do but don’t send your blood pressure up over these false shepherds. They aren’t giving up all that money that is coming their way from the sodomites. I was once told that if you became a bishop in COGIC that within four years you should be a millionaire. I believe it. If you have money and power, the pastors and bishops will absolve you of all sin. Many of them condemn their members for not paying tithes and offering, and they themselves don’t do it. COGIC is equivalent to the Pharisees. They feel because they “speak in tongues” and “have the baptism of the Holy Ghost” that they are God’s favorite children. How far from the truth they are. Because they say they “know” holiness and are lead by the Spirit in everything they do, God is sending them double blindness and condemnation because they are making a mockery out of God. They don’t speak ex cathedra for God just because they have a few million members. Jesus said that He could make children of Abraham out of stones. I feel sorry for the members. I know what they are going through, because my family and me were in the bondage of COGIC for over eighteen miserable years of false holiness and purity, false leadership, stolen money, adulterous preachers, etc. I got tired of hearing touch not the Lord’s anointed so people could hide their sins, and continue to destroy the sheep. But the sad fact is most black churches, Baptist, Methodist, etc. are just as corrupt so where do you run? You run to the Lord because the age of the denominations are over, prepare for the one world church. The spirit of the false prophet and the Antichrist are already operating in the churches and government. Thank God He delivered me from COGIC. Be Blessed.

It is because of people such as Blake and other spineless individuals holding leadership positions in these “organized” churches that I decided to part ways myself. Out of fairness, the last two churches (both “non-denominational,” but definitely have Pentacostal/WOF influence) I have been part of took a hard stand against homosexuality, as they should. Yet, the corrpution regarding the other aspects regarding forced tithes & offerings, continual exaltation of anyone with a title, having no recourse of action when diming out any wrong-doing of the “leadership” simply pushed me out the door.

As far as this specific BS concerning Blake, the man needs to be stripped and flogged at the stake. It’s painfully apparent he has absolutely NO regard for God, Christ and His sacrifice, His people or anything else relevant concerning the Gospel. At the VERY time, any person who assumes leadership in any church should be preparing the adherents to the Gospel for the times we are in now and beyond, we have these fools pandering to sodomites for the sake of a few dollars and a few seconds of TV time. It has already been established that the most radical of this group has trumped the democratic process as a means to strong-arming society for the group to have its way. They do not need Blake’s help!!

Any parishoner worth their weight, as they find out about their denomination’s laest misstep, should either make their position for righteousness known to the “leadership” or step. As a whole, the church, in the collective, institutional sense has already become apostate on so many different levels. People now have a critical choice to make: follow God or trail satan to the depths of hell at the end of their time.

Take money from the government to build your megachurch you have to shut your mouth about certain sins. He is afraid that they will come and take away his place if he speaks out now, because they gave him what he has. Just like the government put Hussein in power in Iraq, they have put these Bishops in power over the people in these churches. These churches don’t belong to God, they belong to the government. People had better wake up and see that the Catholics (Roman Empire) have infilitrated and taken over the church. Pastors had better get out from under their coverings and get under God’s now. You’d better leave Jakes, Long, Osteen, Hagee, Blake ,etc. and run to the Almighty cause TIME IS RUNNING OUT FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it would be better for pastors to not endorse any candidates, not put their church group’s name on any political listing for or against any ballot measures and just straight up preach 1 Corinthians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6. Then live it out, as prescribed in 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15. When members go to endorse ungodly things, that go against the sound teaching of scripture. Including when they advance so-called pro-gay-marriage proposals. Of course the pastors would have already preached it, when speaking about 1 Corinthians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6.

So it all falls in line, that Blake would not dare stand strong against those advancing the homosexual agenda. Blake is on their team, backing their people, in their camp, to cheer them on, not call them to account.

I don’t mean to appear flippant, but I will not be surprised if Blake starts endorsing homosexual marriage from his own pulpit. The lines seperating the holy from the profane have been erased – and many who revel in private sin are beginning to find ways to reconcile their closets with their public persona (I’m not implying that Blake is gay, but many of his “false bishop” cohort’s across the country are)

We are already seeing the “wink and nudge” reaction from pulpits, so we will soon begin to see outright endorsement of all manner of evil – and vile eisegesis of how God doesn’t mind it 🙄

I must agree with Independent Conservative. Pastors should avoid endorsing candidtes. Pastors should exalt the scriptures and the principles they hold. Thinking and faithful congregants can follow their conscience regarding candidates.
I also reject the idea of using Sunday morning as a time for candidates speaking from the pulpit. It is the service of the LORD not a platform to address political issues. A politician can come to the church on a weeknight to talk to congregants. Too many pulpits are for sale to politicians, false prophets and hucksters.
Being friends with pols may open doors for expansion projects, land purchases, zoning issues, etc. Get your foot out of the kingdom of darkness and firmly place both feet in the Kingdom of GOD where there is marvelous light.

Eld. Jimmy, I agree 100%. The pulpit is not the place for your once per election year speech to the people of God masquerading as a “religious” person.

Pastor F., It seems to me that one cannot be a politican and a christian at the same time. Why? Because the standards of holiness are contrary to that of the public (world). All christians should stand for God’s word. If the Word says that SSA and SS marriage is wrong, but the public or the mass says it’s okay, who are you, Christian, going to uphold?

If Barak O. is indeed a true Christian, he cannot in good faith and spirit support such a thing a homosexual rights and marriage. As a Christian he MUST uphold what the Word of God says. But if he did, he would not be in politics, because the world does not know God and cannot know God. Right? Likewise, my former pastor, Bishop Blake, cannot stand for true holiness while fraternizing in the political arenas.

Do you want a name and presence in the news, public, government chambers, Hollywood or do I want to uphold holiness? Remember, it’s either holiness or hell.

I don’t even think politicians should be given time in front of a mic on a week night. Let them know the House of God is not their stage. Let them sit down, hear the gospel and leave like everybody else.

It really does no good if you let them come and then spend time praising them to such a degree that people’s minds are swayed without all the facts about the politician. I think at best they should be recognized as a current office holder. The only reason they come to black churches is because of a captive audience and a certain confidence that the pastor is going to push them to the people.

Thats what Blake did. Too bad he has turned WestA into a place where his “political power” is more important that his spiritual authority.

Jesus died on the cross for all of our sin. He took so much before he went to the cross. please just preach the bible. stand up for jesus he stood up for us. Homosexuality is wrong, God made a man then he created woman.for man. cogic now is not what bishop masion wont. I was born cogic my grandfather were my pastor. we need stop quote that about touch not my anointed, if he or she were anointed you would have to touch them. Bishop blaKe i do hope what i am reading about you is not true. Stand up for Jesus,the older saints did.

The Bishop has been bought.. He wont speak out against anything… In fear of losing all of his contributions from wealthy celebrities and his gay following… I’m sure West Angles is because of his location has alot of sin issues that have not been addressed…Don’t look for any open apologies or a stance from any one in COGIC.. I wouldnt be suprised some of the churches in COGIC leave -split and start another organization like the one in the 60s that birthed the COGIC International ..over issues … there are still some who believe in Old Time Holiness.. If Bishop Patterson was still alive things would be totally different…COGIC has become just like all the other mainstream denominations…..NEW AGE..

Bishop Blake is a good man. It is easy to find fault in anyone. There are no perfect churches or pastors. If he corrected EVERYTHING you are stating in these blogs, I am 100 percent sure that you’d find something wrong about him.

GCMW: Wow, what a big excuse for derelict clergy. Who asked for “perfect pastors and churches”? You dont need to be perfect to do what’s right and stand up for what is good. The BIG problem is that he hasnt corrected anything, only created more ungodly problems.